The brisk winter air gave clear views of a bracing blue sky. The 2008 Men's Advance was in full swing.
With one hundred thirty-five men in attendance from seventeen states across the nation, there were many opportunities for old relationships to grow, as well as new ones to form. The 24 hours of the Advance were intense, yet filled with relaxing times of fellowship, encouraging teaching, and bountiful feasting.
Pastors Brown and Serven presented four lectures on the providence of God and raising godly children. Related discussions were quite varied in the question and answer session, the small group discussions and around each of the meal tables.
Elder Scott Brown.
When considering the Providence of God, the speakers did not shy away from God's truth as they addressed the "frowning providences of God" as well as His "happy providences". There was even a rousing discussion on the theological gordian knot of whether or not God is the author of evil.
Pastor Marcus Serven.
The men also looked at various how-to issues on raising godly sons and daughters including discipleship, maintaining healthy parent child relationships, the role of education, how to guide your sons into their calling, being a good steward of ones time and life, and how to establish oneself in a new household.
There was continued discussion of the importance of family worship and how it practically related to the re-ordered of a busy father's schedule.
Oldest and youngest brothers.
Mealtime discussions: Browns and Vaughns.
Informal miscellaneous discussions abounded around the tables. Business, marketing, future plans, economics, history, and even discussions on cryptozoology. : ) Talking with men in an iron sharpening iron manner, was an excellent opportunity to be encouraged in the Lord as each of the men looks forward to the road ahead.
The Ice Cream Bar, a popular mid-night snack.
Before the beginning of each session the men sang several hymns, led by Mr. Brooke Hopkins on the piano. All us ladies in the kitchen would often stop in the midst of our cooking preparations to listen to the singing--it was so rich and full.
Deacons in training.
Fun and Games
"Change chairs if . . ."
Saturday afternoon, the room took a light hearted turn as the men pushed back all the tables and made a huge circle of chairs. "Change chairs if . . . ." was the phrase of choice.
One person would make a statement true of them, "Change chairs if you've ever been out of the country", then all the people who had traveled abroad would jump up and switch with the other players. The only problem, was that there was one less chair than players. That is, one person always gets left in the "mush-pot" and has to state the next "Change chairs if . . . "
"Change chairs if you are wearing shirt with buttons" would get almost everyone out of their seat, while "Change chairs if you've ever been skydiving", had only one taker who had braved that proverbial altitudinal challenge.
The small fry on the playground.
Catch.
The Kitchen Crew.
Standing ovation for the ladies.
Church on the Lord's Day
Missouri, Wisconsin, North Carolina.
On the Lord's Day, Pastor Brown exhorted Covenant Family Church from Romans 5. His message from God's Word struck close to home as he spoke of the realities of our redemption. We are standing in a stream of grace, are called to hope in the goodness of God, and even rejoice in our tribulations, knowing the truth of our justification in Christ.
Young Mr. Houghton explains the mission of the African Interior Missions.
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
"Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
"More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."
Thanks to Peter Serven and David Brown for the photography.
2 comments:
Thanks so much for the strong "visual" report, and the notes on content. Not a suitable substitute for BEING there, but far better than nothing. It will have to serve....
now, that game "change chairs if...." seems quite the interesting and hilarious one. Far better than the old inane musical chairs. Here, one can actually learn something about one's cohorts. That one on skydiving would have been a tough one to call on the moment. I've been up in the plane with ten divers, taking photos, had the chute on my back (just in case....), but was straitly enjoined NOT to jump as I'd not had the ground training. Now, that's coming pretty close...but not quite. I suppose I'd have kept my seat. Great fun.
What a great update - thank you for sharing! What a wonderful turn-out. It certainly seems that the Lord mightily blessed and I can just imagine how many hearts were strengthened and exhorted!
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